Uber to Launch Trains to Paris and Brussels: New Route from London.

Uber Plans to Launch Trains in Europe

According to The Sun: Trains bearing the Uber logo could soon appear in Europe, competing with Eurostar, but unlike it, they will not depart from London St Pancras.

The company announced the launch of a new project called Gemini Trains, aimed at competing with Eurostar by offering new rail services across the Channel to several European cities.

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Plans and Routes

Unlike Eurostar, which is currently the only carrier operating across the Channel from the UK, Uber intends to launch its trains from the international Stratford station in East London, rather than from St Pancras.

Initially, 10 trains are planned to run to Paris and Brussels.

Services to Lille are also planned, with Cologne to follow, according to The Times.

“The center of gravity in London has shifted east, and Stratford, which has become a city within a city, is the perfect place for us,”

– said Adrian Quine, CEO of Gemini.

“We have all the necessary infrastructure, which allows us to avoid St Pancras, which is becoming increasingly crowded and uncomfortable during peak times,”

– he added.

Stratford International opened in 2009 with plans for international routes that, however, were never realized. Currently, only Southeastern and Docklands Light Railway use this station.

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Restoring International Services and Collaboration

However, in recent years, Stratford has become an important transport hub thanks to the Elizabeth line, allowing easy access to Central London in just 10 minutes.

Adrian also noted that Gemini plans to use the Ebbsfleet station in Kent as a “park and ride” for its services. This station once served international routes but was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, only Southeastern uses this station for high-speed trains on the HS1 line.

Locating a terminal in East London will allow service for approximately 18 million people in the surrounding areas.

The CEO of Gemini Trains, a company created by Tony Berkley, a member of the House of Lords from the Labour party, stated that the company's goal is to implement “competitive fares for comfortable, high-quality, and frequent rail services between Great Britain and continental Europe.”

Uber will be responsible for ticket sales through its app, and each train will have Uber branding, similar to Thames Clipper boats in London.

If Gemini receives its license, it could begin offering services as early as 2029.

Uber is also no stranger to the rail industry: two years ago, the company allowed its users to book intercity trains in the UK.

Several other companies are also planning to launch services across the Channel in competition with Eurostar. For instance, Virgin Trains has signed a deal with Alstom, a French train manufacturer, to supply 12 high-speed trains for new routes.

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Additionally, Trenitalia is also planning to launch high-speed trains across the Channel by 2029 in collaboration with Spanish startup Evolyn.

“We have seen impressive progress since the launch of new modes of transport in the UK, and this collaboration with Gemini Trains is our latest step in helping people reach their destination,”

– noted Andrew Brem, general manager of Uber UK in May.

“Innovation and value are at the core of our business, so it is very nice to work with Uber, a world-famous brand that has revolutionized the travel industry,”

– added Adrian Quine.

Recent announcements from Eurostar confirmed plans to launch direct services to two new European countries and an investment of £1.7 billion in a new fleet.

In the backdrop of these events, it is worth noting that competition in the rail transport market between Great Britain and continental Europe is gradually increasing. The demand for high-speed and comfortable trains is only growing over time, so such innovations could significantly alter the transport infrastructure in the region, simplifying travel for passengers. Moreover, this could serve as a strong signal for other companies regarding the viability of investing in similar systems.